How do I know when I’m self-organizing? How do we know if our group is self-organizing?

Indicator #6: Behaving thoughtfully, demonstrating awareness and reflection

I am self-organizing when I behave thoughtfully, demonstrating awareness and reflection. Demonstrated, for example, by:

• Talking about unexpected consequences emerging from your actions (in my study, people often spoke of difficult yet ultimately positive consequences emerging from collective actions)
• Talking about being on a different level, thinking in a bigger or broader way, and demonstrating what you mean (for example, explaining the new insights you have into what a larger collective—such as your division, district, organization—is both doing well and could be doing better, with minimal concern or pause, even to an outsider)
• Talking about bringing or practicing balance (for selves, team, department, division, etc.) and demonstrating what you mean
• Recognizing and pointing out themes emerging from the discussion you are having

As a group, we’re self-organizing when we behave thoughtfully, demonstrating awareness and reflection. Demonstrated, for example, by:

• All group members understand the value in their role, stay true to the needs of that role, and stay true to who they are (even when role switching and role sharing)
• Group members are often quickly aware when another group member has a personal difficulty and step in to help without being asked (examples: stepping in to help a struggling group member better understand a customer or student or stepping in to help a struggling member get a day off—and not worry about taking a day off—when he needs it)
• The group disbands on its own when it is no longer needed. Members leave the group at different times or all at once, depending on what is needed by themselves and the people who matter most to the individuals and the group.